Deflectable Finger Connection Feature on Surgical Saw Blade

ABSTRACT

A surgical cutting blade for cutting bone material when the blade is coupled to a hand-held surgical saw includes a distal portion comprising a plurality of cutting teeth, a shank portion adjacent the distal portion, and a proximal portion adjacent the shank portion. The proximal portion may include a longitudinally extending slot having a proximal opening. The slot may be shaped to receive a portion of the surgical saw through the proximal opening. The proximal portion may have a plurality of deflectable fingers respectively separated from a plurality of main body portions by respective gaps. The plurality of deflectable fingers may extend adjacent the longitudinally extending slot, and may deflect into the gaps to increase and decrease a width of a portion of the slot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure is directed to a surgical system for cutting tissue andmore particularly, to a surgical saw blade having a deflectable fingerconnection feature.

BACKGROUND

Surgical saw blades are inserted and removed from surgical saws priorto, sometimes during, and after surgical procedures. The saws are oftenarranged so that these saw blades project radially from a post or driverin the saw. To accommodate the post, some blades have openings or gapsformed into their proximal ends. However, until the blade is positivelyclamped in place, the blade is typically manually held in place on thepost. In some instances, the surgeon may not properly clamp the blade inthe saw. In these instances, when the surgeon releases his grip on thesaw blade, it may fall out of the saw and onto the floor. It then mustbe discarded.

The present disclosure is directed to a surgical system including a sawblade addressing one or more of the limitations in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one exemplary aspect the present disclosure is directed to a surgicalcutting blade for cutting bone material when the blade is coupled to ahand-held surgical saw. The cutting blade includes a distal portioncomprising a plurality of cutting teeth, a shank portion adjacent thedistal portion, and a proximal portion adjacent the shank portion. Theproximal portion may be shaped to attach to the surgical saw and mayinclude an upper substantially planar surface, a lower substantiallyplanar surface, and a side edge extending between the upper and lowerplanar surfaces. The side edge may at least in part define an outerperimeter extending about the proximal portion. The proximal portion mayinclude a proximal opening in the outer perimeter to a longitudinallyextending slot shaped to receive a portion of the surgical saw. Adeflectable finger may form a portion of the slot. The deflectablefinger may be defined by the slot and by at least one gap between thedeflectable finger and the outer perimeter. The deflectable finger maybe configured to deflect into the gap when the saw blade is introducedto the surgical saw.

In one aspect, the slot divides the proximal portion into two lateralsides, with each lateral side having a deflectable finger and a mainbody portion. The deflectable finger may be configured to deflect intothe gap without deflecting the main body portion. In one aspect, thesurgical cutting blade includes a seat for said portion of the surgicalsaw. The fingers may define a seat opening smaller than a width of theseat.

In another exemplary aspect the present disclosure is directed to asurgical cutting blade for cutting bone material when the blade iscoupled to a hand-held surgical saw, where the cutting blade includes adistal portion comprising a plurality of cutting teeth, a shank portionadjacent the distal portion, and a proximal portion adjacent the shankportion. The proximal portion may include a longitudinally extendingslot having a proximal opening. The slot may be shaped to receive aportion of the surgical saw through the proximal opening. The proximalportion may have a plurality of deflectable fingers respectivelyseparated from a plurality of main body portions by respective gaps. Theplurality of deflectable fingers may extend adjacent the longitudinallyextending slot, and may be deflectable into the gaps to increase anddecrease a width of a portion of the slot.

In one aspect, the main body portion comprises engagement featuresshaped to connect to the hand-held surgical saw. In one aspect, the slotdivides the proximal portion into two lateral sides. Each lateral sidemay have one of the plurality of deflectable fingers and one of theplurality of main body portions. The said one of the plurality ofdeflectable fingers may be configured to deflect into the respective gapwithout deflecting the said one of the plurality of main body portions.In one aspect, each deflectable finger of the plurality of deflectablefingers comprises a gripping protrusion extending in a transversedirection toward the central longitudinal axis. In one aspect, theplurality of deflectable fingers are configured to snap the blade ontothe surgical saw.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to amethod of attaching a surgical cutting blade for cutting bone materialto a hand-held surgical saw. The method may include opening a colletfixture to create a space for reception of the surgical cutting blade,and introducing a shank of the collet fixture into a proximal opening ofa slot in the blade. The method also may include introducing the shankof the collet fixture into a seat of the slot formed in the blade. Theslot may be formed at least partially by deflectable fingers in a firstcondition. Introducing the shank may include deflecting the deflectablefingers formed on the blade with the shank from a first condition to asecond condition. The method also may include advancing the shank into aseat so that the shank passes partially beyond the deflected deflectablefingers and the fingers return toward the first condition toprovisionally secure the blade to the shank.

In one aspect, the method includes closing the collet fixture to capturethe blade between clamping surfaces on the collet fixture. Closing thecollet fixture may include inserting protrusions through openings in thesaw blade to secure the saw blade in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure and advantagesthereof may be acquired by referring to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary oscillating bone-cuttingsurgical system according to one exemplary aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary collet assembly from thesurgical system of FIG. 1 with a saw blade inserted therein according toone exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cross-section of the exemplary colletassembly with the saw blade of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary micro-saw blade of the bonecutting surgical system of FIG. 1 according to one exemplary aspect ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the exemplary collet system of FIG. 3 in anopen or saw blade-receiving position according to one exemplary aspectof the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6C are illustrations showing an attachment sequence ofintroducing the saw blade of FIG. 4 onto a shank of the exemplary colletsystem of FIG. 3 according to one exemplary aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of another exemplary micro-saw blade of thebone cutting surgical system of FIG. 1 according to one exemplary aspectof the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary sagittal saw for driving a sawblade according to one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made in detail to exemplary embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Generally, the present disclosure relates to a bone cutting surgicalsystem including a hand-held, high-speed, bone-cutting surgical saw,such as a sagittal or oscillating saw, and a micro-saw cutting blade.The cutting blade is arranged to provisionally attach to the surgicalsaw prior to being fully clamped in place. Because the cutting blade maybe provisionally secured in the surgical saw, surgeons are less likelyto inadvertently drop the cutting blade when securing the cutting bladeto the surgical saw, and the cutting blade is less likely toinadvertently slip from the surgical saw prior to being fully clamped inplace. This provides both economic and physiological benefits. Itreduces waste that may occur when a blade is dropped onto a floor, andmust be discarded as waste, and more importantly, it provides easier andfaster saw blade changes and saw assembly. These types of efficienciesin the surgical room may benefit the patient by requiring less timeunder anesthesia, which in some instances may result in thephysiological benefit of an improved surgical outcome.

Turning now to FIG. 1, the present disclosure is directed to abone-cutting surgical system 100 including a hand-held surgical saw 102and a selectively removable micro-saw blade 104. The surgical saw 102includes a hand-piece 106, a cord 108, and a connector 110 configured toremovably couple with a power source. The connector 110 is merelyexemplary, and it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that anysuitable connector may be used, and in some embodiments, the cord 108itself may be coupled to the power source without the use of aconnector. Additional contemplated embodiments include a power source asa part of the hand-piece 106, such as a battery powered hand-piece. Inone example, the surgical saw is a pneumatically driven saw.

The hand-piece 106 includes a motor assembly 112, a grip 114, and acollet assembly 116. In some embodiments, the motor assembly 112 ishoused within the grip 114, while in other embodiments, it is disposedadjacent to the grip 114. It is contemplated that any suitable systemfor controlling the surgical saw 102 may be used. For example, someembodiments include a trigger system disposed on the hand-piece 106 toprovide hand-control of the cutting speed, or alternatively, a footpedal associated with the hand-piece 106 through the power source toprovide the controlling inputs. Other control systems also arecontemplated.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the exemplary collet assembly 116clamping the saw blade 104. The collet assembly 116 secures the sawblade 104 to the surgical saw 102 and transfers a driving force from themotor to the blade. In this embodiment, it includes a driving shaft 118and a sleeve 120 defining a longitudinal collet axis 122. The sleeve 120receives and extends about the driving shaft 118 and is axially movablealong the collet axis 122 relative to the driving shaft 118, enablingselective coupling with the blade 104.

The driving shaft 118 and the sleeve 120 are described in greater detailwith reference to the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3. Here, thedriving shaft includes a head 124 forming a distal end of the drivingshaft and a shank 126 extending proximally from the head 124. Thesetogether define an axis coincident with the collet axis 122.

The shank 126 includes a distal end 142 either connected to or integralwith the head 124 and a proximal end 144. The head 124 includes aproximally facing blade contacting surface 130. In the embodiment shown,the shank 126, including the distal end 142, is formed with a circulardiameter sized to mate with a portion of the saw blade 104. However, inother embodiments, the distal end 142 of the shank 126 is non-circular,and may be formed, for example, of a series of flat surfaces or may beformed of, for example, two grooves formed into opposing sides of theshank 126. An axially elongated slot 150 extends through the shank 126.This can receive a pin (not shown) connecting the shank 126 to thesleeve 120 while still permitting limited axial sliding between thesleeve 120 and shank 126. In this embodiment, the proximal end 144includes a motor coupling feature 147 shown as a pin-receiving throughpassage that connects either directly or indirectly to the motor toprovide the cutting oscillation required.

The proximally facing blade contacting surface 130 of the driving shaft118 includes a plurality of protrusions 172 formed as tapered orstraight cylinders thereon. These are symmetrically disposed about thecollet axis 122 and are configured to interface with the saw blade 104,as is further discussed below. In one embodiment, the driving shaft 118includes eight protrusions extending therefrom, spaced apart about thecollet axis 122. It is contemplated that more or fewer protrusions maybe present. The protrusions 172 may be integrally formed with drivingshaft 118 or, for manufacturing convenience, may be separate componentsfit, such as with an interference fit, into receiving ports 171 (shownin FIG. 3) formed in the proximally facing blade contacting surface 130.In the cross-sectional view in FIG. 3, only two of the protrusions areshown, however, it is contemplated that one or more additionalprotrusions are included. In one embodiment, these protrusions 172 areformed of cylindrical pins extending from the substantially planarproximally facing blade contacting surface 130. In other embodiments,however, the protrusions 172 have a square, rectangular, triangular ordiamond-shaped cross-section, and may be shaped as tapered or straightas indicated above. Protrusions of other shapes are also contemplated.For example, in one embodiment, the protrusions are tapered pins formedas frustoconically shaped protrusions. In this embodiment, a bladecarried by the collet assembly may not engage both of the surfaces 130,160, but instead, a portion of the protrusions has a width or diametergreater than that of connection-facilitating openings in the blades.Therefore, the protrusions wedge into the openings, and the protrusionsthemselves carry the blade. Other embodiments are also contemplated. Itshould be noted that depending on the embodiment, the protrusions mayextend from either the driving shaft 118 or the sleeve 120.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the sleeve 120, like the driving shaft 118,includes a head 152 and a shank 154, but is formed with a central bore156 sized to receive the shank 126 of the driving shaft 118. The sleeve120 defines a sleeve axis coincident with the collet axis 122. The head152 includes a substantially planar distally facing blade contactingsurface 160, a proximally facing surface 162, and an outer perimeter164. In this embodiment, the sleeve outer perimeter 164 is sized to havesubstantially the same diameter as the driving shaft outer perimeter132. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the distally facing blade contactingsurface 160 of the sleeve 120 faces the proximally facing bladecontacting surface 130 of the driving shaft 118.

The distally facing blade contacting surface 160 of the sleeve 120includes a single recess, such as a groove, or multiple receivingrecesses 140 aligned with or corresponding to the protrusions 172. Whenthe blade 104 is clamped in the collet assembly 116, the protrusionsproject into the receiving recesses 140, as shown in FIG. 3. In oneembodiment, the receiving recess 140 is a single groove formed radiallyabout the shaft axis 122, and extending into the distally facing bladecontacting surface 160. In some embodiments, the collet assembly 116includes no receiving recess, but the protrusions extend to and abutdirectly against the substantially planar distally facing bladecontacting surface 160.

Referring to FIG. 3, as can be seen, the distally facing bladecontacting surface 160 of the sleeve 120 and the blade contactingsurface 130 of the driving shaft 118 face each other. The pieces mayaxially move apart to receive the blade 104, and then come together toclamp the blade 104 between the blade contacting surfaces. Whenassembled, the collet axis forms a centerline about which the saw blade104, along with the collet assembly 116, can oscillate. The protrusions172 extending from the proximally facing blade contacting surface 130fit within the receiving recess 140 formed in the head of the sleeve 120to both secure and align the saw blade 104, as discussed below.

FIG. 4 shows the exemplary saw blade 104 usable with the surgical saw102 in FIG. 1 and securable with the collet assembly 116 in FIGS. 2 and3. The saw blade 104 includes an upper substantially planar surface anda lower substantially planar surface and a side edge extending betweenthe upper and lower planar surfaces. The saw blade 104 includes aproximal portion 180 that facilitates interconnection with the colletassembly 116 and a distal portion 182 having a cutting edge including aplurality of cutting teeth 184 formed thereon, and a shank 183interposed between the proximal portion 180 and the distal portion 182.

In this example, the proximal portion 180 includes a slot 188 extendinginwardly along a longitudinal axis 190 from a proximal end 191 of thesaw blade 104. The slot 188 is formed with a funnel-like proximalopening 192 defined by substantially straight edges 194 facing towardthe longitudinal axis 190 and includes an inner distal end 193 forming asemi-circle. The straight edges 194 may help guide the saw blade 104into place on the collet assembly 116, and form an angle between 70 and160 degrees, but more particularly, within a range of about 90 to 120degrees. The slot 188 also includes a slot edge 196 shaped to interfacewith the shank 126 of the driving shaft 118 (FIG. 3). Because the shank126 is cylindrically shaped, the slot edge 196 is formed as asemi-circle, about a center point 198. An outer perimeter 200 defines anouter edge of the proximal portion 180.

In the example shown, the saw blade 104 is longitudinally symmetric. Assuch, the saw blade 104 has two lateral portions 210 on opposing sidesof the longitudinal axis 190. In the example shown, each lateral portion210 includes a main body portion 212 and a spring finger or deflectablefinger 214. As described further below, the deflectable finger 214 isseparated from the main body portion 212 by a gap 216 extending adjacentthe slot 188. As will become apparent from the discussion below, thedeflectable fingers 214 are used to elastically deflect apart to receivethe shank 126 of the driving shaft 118, then deflect back toward theirneutral position to at least provisionally secure or seat the saw blade104 in the surgical saw collet assembly 116.

In the embodiments shown, the main body portion 212 is defined betweenthe gap 216 and the outer perimeter 200. In this example, each of themain body portions 212 is configured to be rigidly and securely attachedto the collet assembly 116. In the example shown, the main body portionseach includes an engagement feature shown as an opening 204 formed inthe outer perimeter 200. These openings 204 extend through the saw blade104 and permit it to be secured to the surgical saw collet assembly 116.In the embodiment shown, the openings 204 are symmetrically disposedabout the center point 198. Here, the two openings 204 lie directly onopposing sides of the center point 198 and on transverse sides of thelongitudinal axis 190. In this example, three additional openings 206are spaced the same distance from the center point 198 as the perimeteropenings 204. In the example shown the openings 204, 206 are offset fromeach other by 45 degrees and are sized to match the protrusions 172 onthe distally facing surface of the driving shaft 118. However, otheroffset angles are contemplated that match the desired collet assembly.Each opening 204, 206 is shaped to be slot-like, having a semi-circularinner end 208 and substantially parallel sides 215, albeit for arelatively short distance. The perimeter openings 204 extend from thesemi-circular end 208 toward the outer perimeter 200. Chamfered orrounded edges 211 smooth the transition from the openings 204 to theouter perimeter 200. This reduces the chance of snagging or perforatingsurgical gloves on the proximal portion 180 of the saw blade 104. Thisis particularly useful because the outer perimeter 200 may be closelyaligned with, or slightly smaller than the outer perimeters of the headsof the driving shaft and sleeve. It is noted that the transition fromthe outer perimeter 200 to the straight edges 194 of the slot opening192 are also chamfered or rounded.

In the example shown, the proximal portion 180 includes five openings204, 206. However, in other embodiments, more or less openings may beprovided. When the funnel-like opening 192 has an angle smaller thanthat shown, additional openings may be included, while maintaining the45 degree spacing shown.

The deflectable fingers 214 form a portion of the slot edge 196 of theslot 188 and help define a seat for the shank 126 of the collet assembly116. In this embodiment, the deflectable fingers 214 are arcuate shaped,having an inner radius matching the radius of the inner distal slot end193. The fingers 214 extend from an end of the gap 216 disposed distalof the center point 198 of the slot 188. Because the deflectable fingers214 are arcuate shaped, the gap 216 is also arcuate shaped, and formedto be concentric with the flexible fingers 214 about the center point198. In the example shown, the flexible fingers 214 extend within arange of 20 degrees to either side of the transverse axis 218 throughthe center point 198. Also in the embodiment shown, the deflectablefingers 214 extend in the proximal direction only a distance sufficientto capture the shank 126 and do not extend beyond the proximal ends 191of the main body portion 212. In the example shown, ends 218 of thedeflectable fingers 214 are disposed so as to not interfere with theshank 126 as it progresses along the funnel like proximal opening 192 tofully seat into the slot 188.

In the embodiment, shown, the deflectable fingers 214 form a portion ofthe radius of the slot, and the ends 218 of the deflectable fingers 214define a seat opening 220. The combination of the deflectable fingers214 and the inner distal end 193 of the slot 188 form a semicirculararch extending between about 250 and 200 degrees. In one example, thesemicircular arch extends within a range of about 215 to 225 degrees. Inone example, the semicircular arch extends about 220 degrees. The seatopening 220 in this example, therefore corresponds to the size of thesemicircular arch. In one embodiment, the semicircular arch has adiameter selected to be about the same as or just larger than the sizeof the shank 126 so that the shank 126 can neatly fit within the slot188. Because the fingers 214 cause the semicircular arch to extend morethan half way around the shank 126, the linear measurement of the seatopening 220 measured between ends 218 of the fingers 214 is less thanthe diameter or cross-sectional width of the shank 126, and less thanthe cross-sectional width of the slot at the seat. As such, when theshank 126 is introduced into the seat, the fingers 214 deflect to allowpassage of the shank 126. This will be explained further below.

The distal portion 182 of the saw blade 104 comprises a viewing window230 therein. The viewing window 230 in this example is somewhat key-holeshaped. It extends from a region just proximal of the teeth to a regionof the shank 183. The viewing window 230 provides multiple advantagesover conventional systems. First, a surgeon using the tool can now viewthe cut through the viewing window 230 during the cutting procedure. Assuch, the surgeon may view both sides of the cut during a process,allowing the surgeon to create a more accurate cut. In addition, theviewing window 230 removes mass from the distal portion 182 of the sawblade 104, permitting the saw blade 104 to oscillate with less energy.Although shown as a key-hole shape in the distal portion of the sawblade 104, it should be recognized that any shape of hole may be used.In this example, the hole includes a transverse width that is greatercloser to the teeth. This may enable a surgeon to view the inner cutwith less visual impairment as the blade cuts back and forth.

The distal portion 182 of the saw blade 104 includes the plurality ofteeth 184 formed at angles of 60 degrees, however, other angles, bothlarger and smaller are contemplated. The cutting teeth angle may be atleast partially dependent on the surgical application.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the surgical saw collet assembly116 in an open configuration, ready to receive the saw blade 104. Inthis configuration, the saw blade 104 may be introduced into the colletassembly 116 so that the shank 126 of the driving shaft 118 enters intothe slot 188. This process is described in greater detail in FIGS.6A-6C. Together, FIGS. 6A-6C show a process for introducing the sawblade 104 to the collet assembly 116, and provisionally locking orprovisionally securing the saw blade 104 in a provisionally lockedcondition on the collet assembly 116.

FIG. 6A is a top view taken in the direction of the arrows A-A in FIG.5. It shows the shank 126 of the driving shaft 118 in cross-section anda view of the proximal portion 180 of the saw blade 104. The deflectablefingers 214 are shown in a neutral or non-deflected condition.Accordingly, the inner and outer surfaces of the deflectable fingers 214form a concentric partial ring about the center point 198. In addition,in this example, the gaps 216 are formed to also arc concentricallyabout the center point 198. As the saw blade 104 is advanced toward theshank 126, the shank 126 enters the slot 188 and the round leading edgeof the shank 126 interfaces with the ends 218 of the deflectable fingers214, causing them to deflect outwardly to accommodate the width of theshank.

FIG. 6B shows the saw blade 104 positioned on the shank 126 where thedeflectable fingers 214 are deflected by the external perimeter of theshank 126. The deflectable fingers 214 elastically displace into thegaps 216, thereby increasing the size of the seat opening 220 formedbetween the ends 218 of the deflectable fingers 214, without deflectingthe main body portions 212. As the shank 126 continues to advance intothe seat of the slot 188, the biasing force of the elasticallydeflectable fingers 214 applies pressure on the trailing side of theshank 126. This biasing force causes the shank 126 to be more fullydrawn to a fully seated position in the slot 188, where the leading sideof the shank 126 engages the inner distal end 193 of the slot 188. Insome embodiments, this force also causes the saw blade 104 to activelysnap onto the shank 126.

FIG. 6C shows the shank 126 seated in the slot 188. As can be seen, thedeflectable fingers 114 are returned toward their neutral or original,non-deflected position, about the shank 126. In this position, the sawblade 104 is provisionally locked onto the shank 126. That is, it can berotated about the shank 126 because it is connected only by thedeflectable fingers 114. This provisionally locked position helps securethe blade 104 to the shank 126, even before the openings 204, 206 arealigned with the connecting protrusions 172 on the collet assembly 116.As such, although the saw blade 104 may rotate entirely about the shank126, it is less likely to slip off of the shank 126 and be inadvertentlydropped. It should be noted that when the blade 104 is properly receivedin and seated about the shank 126, the center point 198 of the saw blade104 is aligned with the collet axis 122. Although shown as beingelastically deflectable, in one embodiment, the fingers can also beplastically deformed when the shank 126 is introduced into the slot 188.

With the deflectable fingers disposed about the shank, the saw blade 104may be rotated about the shank to align the openings 204, 206 with thecollet connecting features. When the collet connecting features arealigned as desired, the sleeve 120 is then axially slid along the shaft118 so that the protrusions 172 (not shown in FIG. 6C) engage theopenings 204, 206 in the blade 104, thereby placing the saw blade in thelocked position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this position, thesurgeon may be ready to use the saw blade in a surgical procedure.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a saw blade, referenced herein bythe numeral 250. The saw blade 250 is similar in many ways to the sawblade 104 discussed above, and much of the relevant discussion abovewill not be repeated here. In this embodiment, the saw blade includesdeflectable fingers 252 that are not arcuate shaped, but that arestraight and extend in a longitudinal direction. Protrusions 254 aredisposed at the ends of the deflectable fingers 252 and extend inwardlyin a transverse direction toward a longitudinal axis to define a seatopening 256 sized smaller than the width of the shank. In this example,the gaps 258 are also arranged to extend in the longitudinal direction.In the manner described above, as the saw blade 250 is introduced to ashank, the leading side of the shank engages the protrusions 254 andseparates them to increase the size of the seat opening 256. The elasticnature of the fingers 252 biases them toward their original position,causing the fingers 252 with the protrusions 254 to snap back as theshank passes, thereby placing the saw blade 250 and shank in theprovisionally locked condition.

FIG. 8 shows a sagittal saw 300 for driving the saw blade 104. In thisembodiment, the collet assembly 302 is arranged to secure the blade 104in an axial direction relative to a saw handle 304. Accordingly, insteadof having proximally and distally facing blade contacting surfaces asdescribed above, the collet assembly includes side-by-side bladecontacting surfaces.

It is evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosedabove may be altered or modified and all such variations are consideredwithin the scope and spirit of the present invention.

We claim:
 1. A surgical cutting blade for cutting bone material when theblade is coupled to a hand-held surgical saw, the cutting bladecomprising: a distal portion comprising a plurality of cutting teeth; ashank portion adjacent the distal portion; a proximal portion adjacentthe shank portion, the proximal portion being shaped to attach to thesurgical saw and including an upper substantially planar surface, alower substantially planar surface, and a side edge extending betweenthe upper and lower planar surfaces, the side edge at least in partdefining an outer perimeter extending about the proximal portion, theproximal portion comprising a proximal opening in the outer perimeter toa longitudinally extending slot shaped to receive a portion of thesurgical saw; and a deflectable finger forming a portion of the slot,the deflectable finger being defined between the slot and at least onegap between the deflectable finger and the outer perimeter, thedeflectable finger being configured to deflect into the gap when the sawblade is introduced to the surgical saw.
 2. The surgical cutting bladeof claim 1, wherein the slot divides the proximal portion into twolateral sides, each lateral side having a deflectable finger and a mainbody portion, the deflectable finger being configured to deflect intothe gap without deflecting the main body portion.
 3. The surgicalcutting blade of claim 1, comprising a seat for said portion of thesurgical saw, wherein the fingers define a seat opening smaller than awidth of the seat.
 4. The surgical cutting blade of claim 1, wherein thedeflectable finger comprises a gripping protrusion extending in atransverse direction toward the central longitudinal axis.
 5. Thesurgical cutting blade of claim 4, wherein the gripping protrusion isdisposed at an end of the deflectable fingers.
 6. The surgical cuttingblade of claim 1, wherein the deflectable finger has an end disposed ata location distal of the proximal end of the main body portion.
 7. Thesurgical cutting blade of claim 1, wherein the proximal portioncomprises a plurality of engagement features configured to receive andinterface with protrusions on the surgical saw in a manner that theprotrusions cooperatively impart motion to drive the blade.
 8. Thesurgical cutting blade of claim 7, wherein the plurality of engagementfeatures are spaced radially about the center point.
 9. The surgicalcutting blade of claim 7, wherein two of the plurality of engagementfeatures intersect with the outer perimeter, the two of plurality ofengagement features being disposed along a transverse reference linethrough the center point.
 10. The surgical cutting blade of claim 1,further comprising a window portion through the cutting blade disposedat the distal portion of the blade.
 11. A surgical cutting blade forcutting bone material when the blade is coupled to a hand-held surgicalsaw, the cutting blade comprising: a distal portion comprising aplurality of cutting teeth; a shank portion adjacent the distal portion;and a proximal portion adjacent the shank portion, the proximal portioncomprising a longitudinally extending slot having a proximal opening,the slot being shaped to receive a portion of the surgical saw throughthe proximal opening, the proximal portion having a plurality ofdeflectable fingers respectively separated from a plurality of main bodyportions by respective gaps, wherein the plurality of deflectablefingers extend adjacent the longitudinally extending slot, and aredeflectable into the gaps to increase and decrease a width of a portionof the slot.
 12. The surgical cutting blade of claim 11, wherein themain body portion comprises engagement features shaped to connect to thehand-held surgical saw.
 13. The surgical cutting blade of claim 11,wherein the slot divides the proximal portion into two lateral sides,each lateral side having one of the plurality of deflectable fingers andone of the plurality of main body portions, the said one of theplurality of deflectable fingers being configured to deflect into therespective gap without deflecting the said one of the plurality of mainbody portions.
 14. The surgical cutting blade of claim 11, wherein eachdeflectable finger of the plurality of deflectable fingers comprises agripping protrusion extending in a transverse direction toward thecentral longitudinal axis.
 15. The surgical cutting blade of claim 14,wherein the gripping protrusion is disposed at an end of said eachdeflectable finger.
 16. The surgical cutting blade of claim 11, whereinthe proximal portion comprises a plurality of engagement featuresconfigured to receive and interface with protrusions on the surgical sawin a manner that the protrusions cooperatively impart motion to drivethe blade.
 17. The surgical cutting blade of claim 11, wherein theplurality of deflectable fingers are configured to snap the blade ontothe surgical saw.
 18. A method of attaching a surgical cutting blade forcutting bone material to a hand-held surgical saw, the methodcomprising: opening a collet fixture to create a space for reception ofthe surgical cutting blade; introducing a shank of the collet fixtureinto a proximal opening of a slot in the blade; introducing the shank ofthe collet fixture into a seat of the slot formed in the blade, the slotbeing formed at least partially be deflectable fingers in a firstcondition, wherein introducing the shank comprises deflecting thedeflectable fingers formed on the blade with the shank from a firstcondition to a second condition; advancing the shank into a seat so thatthe shank passes partially beyond the deflected deflectable fingers andthe fingers return toward the first condition to provisionally securethe blade to the shank.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprisingclosing the collet fixture to capture the blade between clampingsurfaces on the collet fixture.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinclosing the collet fixture comprises inserting protrusions throughopenings in the saw blade to secure the saw blade in place.